Multi-omics analysis of the metabolic regulatory network in response to mechanical damage stress in Dongzao

Bioinformatics studies of fruit responses to postharvest mechanical damage provide crucial insights for cultivar improvement, logistics optimization, and quality monitoring. However, systematic multi‑omics analyses of Dongzao under such stress remain limited. Here, an integrated bioinformatics approach elucidates key molecular pathways activated in Dongzao to counteract compression injury through coordinated physical and chemical defense mechanisms. Following mechanical injury, key genes involved in lignin biosynthesis (4CL, CAD, POD, and LAC) were up-regulated, activating pathways such as phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, and glycerolipid metabolism, thereby promoting the synthesis of antioxidant and protective compounds. Within the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, 51 differentially expressed genes and four differential metabolites were identified, suggesting that the fruit primarily responds to mechanical stress through enhanced lignin biosynthesis. This study elucidates the multiple metabolic mechanisms by which Dongzao resists compressive mechanical damage, providing crucial biological targets for subsequent technical optimization and cultivar breeding.